FUNCTION: [Summary is not available for the mouse gene. This summary is for the human ortholog.] This gene encodes a member of the Armadillo protein family, which function in adhesion between cells and signal transduction. Multiple translation initiation codons and alternative splicing result in many different isoforms being translated. Not all of the full-length natures of the described transcript variants have been determined. Read-through transcription also exists between this gene and the neighboring upstream thioredoxin-related transmembrane protein 2 (TMX2) gene. [provided by RefSeq, Dec 2010] PHENOTYPE: Mice homozygous for disruptions of this gene die shortly after birth and have morphological abnormalities of the salivary glands and lacrimal gland. [provided by MGI curators]